CHIFF: Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

‘Burton's first feature revels in the weird, the unpredictable, the infantile and the absurd. A dazzling debut.’

Before Beetlejuice, Batman and Edward Scissorhands, Tim Burton was a relatively unknown director with a background in animation, which included working at Disney. Paul Reubens was a comedian whose childlike character Pee-wee Herman had appeared in a popular HBO special, and would go on to have his own TV show. Together, Burton and Reubens created this funny, anarchic and sweetly innocent cross-country adventure film that at times feels more like a live action cartoon.

When Pee-wee Herman's idyllic world falls apart after the theft of his red bicycle, the childlike adult sets out on a manic odyssey to recover his most valued possession.

Director Tim Burton, one of Hollywood’s most eccentric filmmakers, makes his feature-film debut with this comic masterpiece. CHIFF is excited to present his singular vision for our 2025 edition, 40 years after it first premiered in cinemas.

Rating

PG

Duration

91 min

Country

United States

Language

English

Director

Tim Burton